LA April volume falls 6pc to 690,000 TEU, LB falls 17.3pc to 519,730 TEU

THE Port of Los Angeles container volume fell six per cent year on year to 690,000 TEU in April due to the continuing impact from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Port executive director Gene Seroka said April volume represented a 53 per cent increase over March throughput.



Loaded imports increased three per cent year on year to 370,000 TEU in April. Loaded exports decreased 16 per cent to 130,000 TEU. Empties fell 14 per cent to 190,000 TEU.



Said Mr Seroka: 'Given the unique circumstances of a trade war and pandemic, April volumes are better than expected. As we move deeper into the remainder of the second quarter, we're forecasting significantly lower volumes, particularly on the import side.'



That is because there are 28 cancelled sailings. Retail orders are weak as consumer purchasing and confidence has dropped precipitously.'



As reported earlier, the neighbouring Port of Long Beach container volume fell 17.3 per cent year on year to 519,730 TEU in April.



While manufacturing in China has rebounded from the pandemic, US demand remains below normal due to the ongoing crisis and it expected 16 sailings would be blanked between April 1 and June 30.



Imports dropped 20.2 per cent to 235,540 TEU as consumer demand was down during stay-at-home mandates, according to the port, which said exports declined 17.2 per cent to 102,502 TEU and were hampered by a shift of carrier services.



Long Beach moved 2,202,650 TEU during the first four months of 2020, down 9.5 per cent from the same period in 2019. The port had only one cancelled sailing in April. However, the San Pedro Bay port complex is expected to have 48 cancelled voyages between April 1 and June 30.



Empties decreased 12.2 per cent year on year in April to 163,688 TEU. Empties were down 21 per cent in March.


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